Rich in antioxidants, anti-inflammatory and cleansing properties!
I wanted to have a super smoothie recipe in my repertoire which would also taste great! I mean, every fruit based smoothie has multiple benefits for our body, since fruits are full of antioxidants, vitamins and other nutrients which ensure our well being… And of course, tastewise, you literally can’t go wrong whatever fruit combinations you choose! Each one will probably taste awesome! But I wanted to go one step further, and add some other ingredients which will work together in order to create a smoothie with maximum health and detoxifying benefits (without compromising the taste!)
A big glass of this smoothie is very filling so it’s ideal for a quick breakfast or a healthy snack throughout the day. Chia seeds, brazil nuts, tahini and apples are rich in fiber and help you saturate your hunger and stay full for a long time. I have made this sometimes using pineapple juice and other times using orange juice (both have a good detoxifying effect). I thought that I’d like the one with the pineapple juice better, but I was wrong! So the recipe asks for orange juice, but you can always substitute it with another juice of your preference for a different outcome.
Quick facts on why this smoothie works:
Oranges are great for not only boosting your immune system, but also for cleansing your internal organs, specifically your colon and liver. Oranges are also used in my Coconut Sunrise Smoothie 🙂
Chia seeds are packed with fiber, calcium, iron, phosphorous and lots of antioxidants. They also contain the ability to fight inflammation, lower blood pressure and help your body absorb vitamins.
Apples contain a high amount of pectin (a lot of which is in their skin), which binds to bad cholesterol and heavy metals, eliminating them from the body and cleansing the intestines. They also contain an antioxidant called quercetin, which supports your immune system and even deliver more oxygen to the lungs for increased endurance.
Ginger is used in many popular cleansing programs, as it is thought to cleanse the body by stimulating digestion, circulation, and sweating. Its digestive action may serve to cleanse the build-up of waste and toxins in the colon, liver, and other organs.
Goji berries are energy boosting and believed to promote longevity. These little red fruits strengthen our immune system and support the function of liver and kidneys, which are the organs responsible for the detoxification of our body. They cleanse the blood, improve circulation and effectively lower cholesterol. Goji berries have also been hailed as the world’s most potent anti-aging food!
Turmeric is a spice that is being heavily studied for its role in helping your liver with the detoxification process. Turmeric contains a powerful phytochemical component known as curcumin which aids digestion and helps with liver disorders. Curcumin has also been recognized for its anti-inflammatory, anticancerous and antioxidative effects. To get the best from turmeric you should combine it with a pinch of pepper and some fat (in this case tahini and brazil nuts offer plenty of healthy fats!)
Brazil nuts contain selenium which not only detoxifies the body of mercury, but it’s also crucial for your body’s master detoxification system (glutathione system).
Tahini contains lots of fats, most of which are unsaturated (this means healthy!). It is a great source of vitamin E, a vitamin best known for its anti-aging properties. It is also a good source of Methionine. Methionine is an amino acid which contributs to liver detoxification and helps with the absorption of other amino acids.
Some notes/tips:
Sometimes when I use ingredients not very easy to blend (like nuts and seeds) I don’t use all the liquid that the recipe asks from the beginning. I start blending using just half of it, since this way a thick mixture is formed and the nuts and seeds get blended better. When I see that the mixture is homogenous and there are no big pieces left, I add the rest of the liquids and blend for some additional seconds. And voila! A perfectly smooth smoothie!
Some other extra healthy recipes are my Detox Pasta with creamy spinach pesto and this low fat creamy yogurt panna cotta. Try them out and tell me what you think!
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- 2 cups freshly squeezed orange juice (or equal quantity peeled and pitted oranges)
- 1 unpeeled, pitted apple
- 1 ripe banana
- 3 tablespoons goji berries
- 1 teaspoon turmeric
- A pinch of pepper
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 2 tablespoons tahini (you can up this to 4 tablespoons or even replace with almond butter)
- 3 brazil nuts
- 2 teaspoons fresh grated ginger
- 3 teaspoons chia seeds
- Blend all ingredients until smooth.
- Drink!
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